Easy At Home Date Night Idea: Valentine's Day Special

Staying at home for Valentine’s Day has always been a good idea, but it’s a bit more of a realistic one this year. What’s our recommendation for making Valentine’s Day special? Create your own wine and cheese pairing experience complete with score card below!

Wine and cheese scoring card. Rate wines and cheeses 1-5 with 5 being a top score. Compare your totals at the end of your experience to see which wines and cheeses you and your partner liked best.

Choose three or four wines from your local grocer or vineyard. Then, ask questions about which cheese might go well with the wines you’ve chosen. Or, start the opposite way by selecting the cheeses, and then ask your local grocer or vineyard for tips on wine pairings. In my experiences, local experts are happy to help!

Here’s a sample menu we enjoyed over the holidays with input from Ab Astris winery and Cooper’s Hawk winery (some dessert pairings included!):

Ab Astris 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon: pair with goat cheese (no desserts)

Ab Astris 2019 Aurora Rosé: pair with desserts (slightly sugary or fruity desserts are best) or simple fruit (raspberries)

Ab Astris 2019 Picpoul Blanc: pair with blue, comte, or gruyere cheeses, or pineapple upside down cake.

Cooper’s Hawk Blueberry Acai: pair with chocolate cake, berry tart, or a creamy cheese like brie.

Extra tips: use a large cutting board or butcher’s block to arrange all cheeses so that they are not touching each other to preserve flavor. Allow the cheeses to reach room temperature before serving to maximize taste. Allow the wine to “breathe” before serving.

Wine at home

Leave us a comment about your own wine and cheese pairing experience created at home, and enjoy this Valentine’s Day with your loved one!

References to Ab Astris winery and Cooper’s Hawk winery are based on my own opinions and experiences, and I received no compensation from the wineries for discussing my own opinions.

First and third images above: Shutterstock.

© 2021 Balanza and Beyond, LLC. All rights reserved.

Recipe: Easy and Flavorful Fall White Chicken Chili

Need a hearty fall recipe? Try this super easy one using some of the most common staple items that are probably already in your pantry and fridge!

Utensils:

Slow cooker

Ladle / large spoon for stirring

Ingredients:

1 brick of chicken broth

1 can / 1-2 cups of garbanzo beans

1 lb. chicken breasts or tenderloins

1/2 stick of cream cheese

1/2 jar of green chili salsa

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional ingredients: diced garlic or onion

Steps:

1. Place all ingredients in slow cooker on low for 5-6 hours (or on high for 3-4 hours); the longer you let it simmer, the more the flavors come together!

2. Stir the ingredients occasionally to help mix them together. If the chili is too thick, add some additional water or chicken broth. If it’s too thin, add some flour to thicken it. Pull the chicken apart (it should naturally come apart as it cooks). Season with salt and pepper as desired.

3. Garnish with shredded cheese, scallions, or corn. Serve with tortilla chips or crackers. Enjoy!

Seasons of consumption: Fall and winter

First image above: Shutterstock

© 2020 Melanie Glover. All rights reserved.

Simple Three Ingredient Pico de Gallo Recipe

It doesn’t get simpler than this! Need a quick condiment to accompany tacos, nachos, or just your basic bowl of tortilla chips? Try this easy pico de gallo recipe, and get snacking!

Ingredients:

One lime

One tomato

One onion

Utensils:

Chef’s knife

Cutting board

Zester / grater

Peeler

Bowl

Stirring spoon

Instructions:

(1) Wash and dry all produce.

(2) Peel the onion, and chop up about two to three tablespoons of onion using the chef’s knife and cutting board. Place the chopped onion in the bowl.

(3) Cut the entire tomato into bite-size pieces, and place into the bowl.

(4) Zest the lime, and combine the zest with the tomato and onion in the bowl. Cut the lime in half, and squeeze the lime juice into the bowl.

(5) Stir thoroughly, season with salt and pepper if you’d like, and enjoy!

Option: Add cilantro for extra flavor!

First image above: Shutterstock.

© 2020 Balanza and Beyond, LLC. All rights reserved.

Hotel Review: NH Collection Barcelona Podium

When a work trip took me to Ireland in November 2019, I couldn’t resist a solo weekend getaway to visit friends in Barcelona. Barcelona is a place I have visited before, but I have not spent much time in the city. Its modern attractions from food to art have long inspired me to return, and this time was no different.

For vacation packages on both solo trips and trips with companions, I have been using Costco Travel (which is a fabulous resource, by the way — more on this in a later post!). The NH Collection Barcelona Podium surfaced as one of the hotel options for a weekend trip. I love the variety of package options and discounted rates that Costco Travel offers, which often include meals and ground transportation to and from the airport (at least the ones I have used for travel within Spain).

NH Collection Barcelona Podium attracted me because of its price, location, and amenities. While traveling, I look for hotels that offer affordable meal choices (breakfast was included in the rate for my stay each day, and there was an affordable restaurant on site), gyms, and close proximity to local transportation and attractions I want to visit. Usually a hotel in the city center is key, but these can be expensive. So when Costco Travel offered up the option to stay at NH Collection Barcelona Podium for a decent price including breakfast each day and ground transportation to and from the airport, I couldn’t refuse!

Here is a quick list of the things I enjoyed the most and least about the hotel:

Pros:

• Breakfast was included in my rate each day;

• The hotel is within walking distance to the Arch of Triumph (“Arco de Triunfo” in Spanish or “Arc de Triomf” in Catalan), many shops, restaurants, and local transportation;

• The hotel restaurant has a fabulous selection of Spanish and other red wines from around the world; the hotel restaurant offers the typical Spanish "menu of the day” (“menú del día” in Spanish), which is an economical way to eat in Spain because it includes a drink, first and second courses, and dessert for a flat fee typically advertised upfront (including tax!);

• The hotel is clean;

• The hotel offers laundry service (always a plus when traveling light!); and

• The hotel staff is extremely friendly and willing to help with directions, transportation, etc.

Cons:

• I found the walls to be very thin, so noise was a concern here and there. However, it did not interrupt my activities or sleep.

• The hotel seems to host large groups and events, which may make grabbing breakfast in the morning challenging during peak hours due to the volume of people who stay at the hotel.

Overall, as a female solo traveler (this time around), I would highly recommend a stay at the NH Collection Barcelona Podium. It’s price, food, and location do not disappoint!

Do you consider travel to be a form of self care? Leave us a comment!

All opinions are my own, and I received no compensation for sharing them.

First image above: Shutterstock.

© 2019 Balanza and Beyond, LLC. All rights reserved.

How to Make an Easy Spanish Tapas / Charcuterie Board

Have an event coming up and need to whip up a quick and easy edible centerpiece to decorate your table, create a theme for a party, or provide simple snacks? Consider an easy Spanish tapas board as a great way to impress guests by keeping your budget down and tastes elaborate.

I love creating charcuterie boards because you can use what you have and design in an attractive way that invites foodies to indulge at their leisure. Finger foods also serve as conversational pieces at cocktail parties or get-togethers of any type by complementing the flow of a room or event.

Spanish tapas board

Key ingredients / staples for tapas boards:

1. Serrano ham

2. Two or three cheeses (Spanish manchego cheese is a favorite!)

3. Marcona almonds

4. Green or black olives

5. Olive oil drizzle

6. Honey drizzle

7. Crackers or bread for dipping

Arrange the food items on a cutting board or large plate — the more rustic- or unique-looking, the better! Organize the food items so that they are not touching each other to maintain a neat and aesthetically please look. Don’t overcrowd the board, and be sure to give each food item the real estate it deserves. Serve food items at a slightly cool temperature to allow them to come to room temperature for optimal taste.

Don’t have all of the ingredients? Use what you have by splitting up food items onto their own plates for viewing and tasting pleasure.

Here are some photos below for organization inspiration:

Ham plates

Cheese plates

Have fun creating your own Spanish tapas board, and leave us a pic or two of your own design!

First image above: Shutterstock.

© 2019 Balanza and Beyond, LLC. All rights reserved.